2018 Morgan State Bears football team

The 2018 Morgan State Bears football team represented Morgan State University in the 2018 NCAA Division I FCS football season. They were led by first-year interim head coach Ernest T. Jones.[1] The Bears played their home games at Hughes Stadium. They were a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC).[2] They finished the season 4–7, 3–4 in MEAC play to finish in a tie for sixth place.

2018 Morgan State Bears football
Conference	Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
2018 record	4–7 (3–4 MEAC)
Head coach	Ernest T. Jones (1st season)
Offensive coordinator	Travis Manger (1st season)
Co-defensive coordinator	Antonio James (1st season)
Co-defensive coordinator	Aaron Kelton (1st season)
Home stadium	Hughes Stadium (Capacity: 10,001)

2018 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference football standings
	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
No. 12 North Carolina A&T $		6	–	1					9	–	2
Bethune–Cookman		5	–	2					7	–	5
Florida A&M		5	–	2					6	–	5
South Carolina State		4	–	3					5	–	6
Howard		4	–	3					4	–	6
North Carolina Central		3	–	4					5	–	6
Morgan State		3	–	4					4	–	7
Norfolk State		2	–	5					4	–	7
Delaware State		2	–	5					3	–	8
Savannah State		1	–	6					2	–	8
$ – Conference champion Rankings from STATS Poll

Previous season

The Bears finished the 2017 season 1–10, 1–7 in MEAC play to finish in last place.

On December 18, 2017 Fred Farrier was dismissed and released from his contract. He finished at Morgan State with a record of 4–18.[3][1]

Preseason

MEAC preseason poll

In a vote of the MEAC head coaches and sports information directors, the Bears were picked to finish in ninth place.[4]

Predicted finish	Team
1	North Carolina A&T
2	Howard
3	North Carolina Central
4	Bethune–Cookman
5	Florida A&M
6	Norfolk State
7	South Carolina State
8	Savannah State
9	Morgan State
10	Delaware State

Preseason All-MEAC Teams

The Bears had seven players selected to the preseason all-MEAC teams.[5]

Offense 3rd team Manasseh Bailey – WR Matthew Thompson – C Joshua Miles – OL

Defense 1st team Malachi Washington – DL Rico Kennedy – LB 3rd team Ian McBorrough – LB Carl Garnes – DB

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 1	7:00 p.m.	Towson*	Hughes Stadium Baltimore, MD (The Battle for Greater Baltimore)	SPORTSfever TV MeTV Baltimore	L 10–36	9,209
September 8	3:30 p.m.	at Akron*	InfoCision Stadium–Summa Field Akron, OH	ESPN+	L 7–41	18,413
September 15	7:00 p.m.	at Albany*	Bob Ford Field Albany, NY		L 27–30	6,503
September 22	6:00 p.m.	at No. 4 North Carolina A&T*	BB&T Stadium Greensboro, NC	ESPN3	W 16–13	15,909
October 6	1:00 p.m.	South Carolina State	Hughes Stadium Baltimore, MD	SPORTSfever TV MeTV Baltimore	L 18–21	8,103
October 13	6:00 p.m.	at Savannah State	Ted A. Wright Stadium Savannah, GA	ESPN3	W 18–11	2,655
October 20	7:00 p.m.	Howard	Hughes Stadium Baltimore, MD	SPORTSfever TV MeTV Baltimore	L 26–35	1,021
October 27	4:00 p.m.	at Florida A&M	Bragg Memorial Stadium Tallahassee, FL	ESPN3	L 3–38	14,037
November 3	4:00 p.m.	Bethune–Cookman	Hughes Stadium Baltimore, MD	SPORTSfever TV MeTV Baltimore	L 28–30	2,008
November 10	1:00 p.m.	Delaware State	Hughes Stadium Baltimore, MD	SPORTSfever TV MeTV Baltimore	W 9–0	1,008
November 17	1:00 p.m.	at Norfolk State	William "Dick" Price Stadium Norfolk, VA	ESPN3	W 44–27	3,437
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from STATS FCS Poll released prior to game All times are in Eastern time

• Source: Schedule

Despite also being a member of the MEAC, the game vs North Carolina A&T will be considered a non conference game and will not effect the MEAC standings.

Game summaries

Towson

	1	2	3	4	Total
Tigers	3	14	14	5	36
Bears	7	0	3	0	10

at Akron

	1	2	3	4	Total
Bears	0	0	0	7	7
Zips	17	10	14	0	41

at Albany

	1	2	3	4	Total
Bears	0	13	7	7	27
Great Danes	3	14	3	10	30

at North Carolina A&T

	1	2	3	4	Total
Bears	0	7	3	6	16
No. 4 Aggies	0	6	7	0	13

South Carolina State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Bulldogs	7	7	0	7	21
Bears	11	0	0	7	18

at Savannah State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Bears	3	8	7	0	18
Tigers	0	3	8	0	11

Howard

	1	2	3	4	Total
Bison	6	14	0	15	35
Bears	10	9	7	0	26

at Florida A&M

	1	2	3	4	Total
Bears	0	0	0	3	3
Rattlers	14	17	7	0	38

Bethune–Cookman

	1	2	3	4	Total
Wildcats	9	7	7	7	30
Bears	0	8	7	13	28

Delaware State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Hornets	0	0	0	0	0
Bears	0	6	3	0	9

at Norfolk State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Bears	10	14	7	13	44
Spartans	6	0	0	21	27

Coaching staff

2018 Morgan State Bears coaching staff

Head Coach Head Coach (interim)/Defensive coordinator/defensive backs – Ernest T. Jones Offensive Coaches Offensive Coordinator/quarterbacks – Travis Manger Assistant head coach/co-special teams/wide receivers – Ron Dickerson Jr. Offensive line/run game coordinator – Isaac Williams Running backs – Jordan Hopgood Tight ends – Josh Firm Defensive Coaches Co-defensive coordinator/co-special teams/outside linebackers – Antonio James Inside linebacks – Benjamin Thomas Safeties – Benjamin Thomas Defensive line – Logan Williams Administrative staff Director of football operations – Andrew Magee Equipment manager – Leo Roberts IV Source:[6] Last updated 7/13/18.

Players drafted into the NFL

Round	Pick	Player	Position	NFL Club
7	248	Joshua Miles	OT	Arizona Cardinals

References

1. "Morgan State fires football coach Fred Farrier, names defensive coordinator as interim replacement". The Baltimore Sun. December 18, 2017. Archived from the original on December 19, 2017. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
2. "2018 MSU Football Schedule Announced". Morgan State Athletics. March 13, 2018. Retrieved May 19, 2018.
3. "Morgan State University Athletics Releases Bears Football Head Coach". Morgan State Athletics. December 18, 2017.
4. "North Carolina A&T State Picked To Win 2018 MEAC Championship". Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. July 27, 2018.
5. "NCAT's Raynard, NCCU's Reynolds Headline 2018 All-MEAC Preseason Football Team". Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. July 25, 2018.
6. "2018 Morgan State Bears Football Roster". Morgan State Athletics. July 13, 2018.